Paint bucket support rack



Sept. 1963 o. F. HOELZEL 3,104,859

PAINT BUCKET SUPPORT RACK Filed Jan. 4, 1961 Ff 2 /2 8 g A 0 3 Fig.

Omar F. Hoe/ze/ INVENTOR.

BY Mm United States Patent 3,164,859 PAENT BUCKET SUPPORT RACK Omar F. Hoelzel, 1G6 Parkview Ave, Portsmouth, Va. Filed Jan. 4, 1951, Ser. No. 30,681 3 Claims. (Cl. 245-210) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a novel attachment for a ladder and has reference, more in particular, to a readily applicable and removable bracket embodying a holder for a paint bucket.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing bucket holders (variously referred to as racks, hooks, attaching brackets and so on) and, in doing so, to provide a suitable and desirable adaptation which will meet with the practical and economical manufacturing requirements of manufacturers and the needs of ladder users, particularly painters.

As is perhaps evident from the preceding description the art to which the invention relates is generally well advanced. In fact, many and varied styles and forms of bucket holders have been devised by persons working in this particular line of endeavor. Nevertheless and notwithstanding this active state of the art it is believed that the instant endeavor involves a simple, practical and economical holder and bracketing hook which not only satisfactorily serves the purposes for which it is intended but features several worthwhile improvements. To this end and in carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention the bucket holding part of the bracket or attachment comprises a bucket encircling band which when it is tightened securely grips the bucket so that the bucket and attachment become a combination entity and permit the user to catch hold of the handle of the bucket and take it up and down the ladder as painting and other requirements call for.

It is also to be pointed out that the construction is such that it can be satisfactorily utilized as a tool carrier for mechanics and tradesmen who are required to work from ladders. This is to say that instead of embracing and attaching a bucket of paint an empty bucket may be held in the holder and be used to store insertable and removable small articles and items such as nails, punches, screw drivers, hammers and so on.

Further novelty is predicated on a bucket holding attachment or bracket wherein two principal component parts are utilized. One part comprises a length of strap metal of suitable bendability and rigidity which has a vertical leg with a rung hook at the upper end .and which has a horizontal leg or arm, the end portion of which is bent upon itself to provide a bucket encircling band. In addition a stabilizing member is also utilized as will be hereinafter pointed out.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a fragmentary portion of a rung-equipped ladder, illustrating a paint bucket (either empty or full) and showing how the bucket is mounted in the improved holder and how the holder is attached and used on the ladder.

FIG. 2. is a section on the vertical line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a View in perspective of the complete readyto-use bracket or attachment.

Attention is directed first to FIG. 1 wherein the ladder is fragmentarily shown and wherein the rungs are denoted 3,lil4,859 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 at A and the rail or stile of the ladder .at B. For purposes of explanation it can be assumed that the inner flat vertical surface of the stile is denoted at C and the other one at D.

The attachment, using the word broadly, comprises the already mentioned bracket which includes as a component part a holder. As already mentioned this bracket is principally made up of two component parts, one of which is denoted at 6 and the other one .at 8. The part 6 is fashioned from a length of strap metal which may be bent to assume the shape of the parts illustrated but which is nevertheless strong, durable and rigid. The vertical leg or arm is denoted by the numeral 10' and the upper end of this is fashioned into a bent portion 12 which may be described as a hook. This hook is obviously engageable over the rang of the ladder and the longitudinal edge 14 which is linearly straight is adapted to bear firmly and flatwise against the surface C in the manner shown. The second arm or limb is horizontal and therefore at right angles to the arm 10 and is joined by a suitably angled twist or bend 16. One portion thereof 18 is adapted to rest against the coacting edge 20 and in fact it extends across the edge and beyond the surface D. The outer end portion is then curved into a return bent portion 22 and is further bent as at 24 to provide a collar-like band which embraces the body of the bucket 26. The free end portion 28 is at. right angles to the arm and it is then laterally bent out at 30 to form What may be described as a foot. This foot is held by the threaded shank 31 of an assembling and retaining bolt which passes through the foot and the arm and which carries a thumb nut 32 in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The stabilizing member 8 may be of some construction other than that shown but it is preferably formed from a A relatively short length of angle iron which embodies one flange 34 riveted or otherwise secured against the median portion of the arm as at 36 and a right angularly disposed flange 38 which'is adapted to rest against the surface D of the ladder stile.

'It will be obvious that the over-all bracket or rack is designed to be easily slipped on and off a paint bucket. The book 12 obviously fits over the desired rung on the ladder and the leg 10 extends down alongside the interior surface where the edge 14 rests against the surface C. The junctional end portion 18 of the horizontal arm rests atop 'the edge 20 and positions the collar-like bucket encircling band outwardly at the desired position for convenient use. This collar-like member constitutes the holder which may be referred to as an entity by the numeral 23. This part 23 is such that it holds the bucket in a level position and when the paint bucket is inserted it becomes, in effect, one with the bracket or attachment making it possible to handle the assembly as a unit when ascending or descending the ladder. It is clear that when the rack is hooked on the desired ladder rung it holds the mouth of the bucket away from the ladder so that it is clear of any obstruction and offers clear access to the paint in the bucket when using the brush.

While the rack has been described as being constructed from strap metal or flat bar material, it is pointed out that any shape of metal could be employed such as rod, wire, bars or the like. Also, the rack and the stabilizer can be made of unitary or one-piece construction rather than of two-piece construction as disclosed in the drawings. Also, it is within the purview of the present invention to provide a structure capable of being connected to the ladder from the back as well as the front. This would require only slight modification to the structure such as reversing the bends and the like. Also, the collar-like band which is disclosed as encircling the bucket may be constructed in the form of a split resilientband. For example, the portions 28 and 30 may be omitted and the resilent nature of the hand then will friotionally engage and retain the bucket.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A paint bucket supporting attachment for a painters ladder having spaced rails and intervening rungs attached to the rails, said attachment comprising a bracket formed from a length of strap metal having a vertical suspension leg at one end and a horizontal complemental leg having an inner end joined to the lower end of Said first leg, said first leg being provided at an upper end with a hook to be releasably hung over a selected rung on said ladder, that portion of the horizontal leg adjacent to the vertical leg being adapted to extend across a forward edge of a cooperating rail of the ladder and having an outer end portion projecting Weill beyond the outer surface of said rail and provided with a collar, said collar being adapted to snugly surround and support a paint bucket, said collar having a terminal end portion embodying a lateral foot superimposed upon and secured to a surface of the median portion of said horizontal leg, and a stabilizing member having an upper end secured to a median portion of the second-named leg and having its major portion depending below the lower edge of thesecond legs, said stabilizing member being at an angle oblique to the plane of said first and second legs and having an inward lengthwise edge de signed and adapted to reside in firm contact with 'a co operating exterior surface of said rail.

2. A paint bucket supporting and handling device construeted and adapted for attachment to a painters ladder comprising: a readily attachable and detachable bracket embodying a vertical leg provided at an upper end with a hook which is adapted to be hung over a rung of the ladder, said leg being elongated and having an outwardly disposed straight lengthwise edge which is adapted to contact and rest firmly against a surface of named leg and extending at right angles in respect to the lengthwise dimension of said first leg and of a length appreciably greater than the length of said first leg, said second leg being adapted to occupy a horizontal position when said attachment is being used on said ladder and r being adapted to extend across a forward surface of said stile in a manner to be supported in part by the stile, the outward end of said second leg being formed into a circular ring which is adapted to snugly embrace and support said paint bucket, and a rigid bracket stabilizing member secured to a median portion of said second leg and being disposed at right angles to the axis of the second leg and depending below the plane of the second leg and said ring and being spaced a prescribed distance fromsaid first leg and being designed to reside in firm contact with the exterior surface of said stile,

and wherein said second leg being tangential to that side of the ring with which it is connected, whereby the ring is caused to assume a position projecting forwardly of said legs and also said stabilizing member.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein said I stabilizing member comprises an angle iron having an upper end portion of one flange secured to the cooperating surface of said second leg, having its major portion depending below the plane of said second leg and 'having its other fiange projecting rearwardly beyond said leg in a position at right angles to the second leg and disposed in a position substantially parallel with the lengthwise dimension of the first leg being obliquely inclined to reside firmly against the cooperating surface of the ladder stile;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i 1,593,043 Stroecker July 20; 1926 1,601,652 'Sohnle Sept. 28, 1926 1,808,647 Fazekas June 2, 1931 1,900,636 Davis Mar. 7, 1933 2,244,574 Rogers June 3,1941 2,790,614 Miller Apr, 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,538 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1900 

1. A PAINT BUCKET SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT FOR A PAINTER''S LADDER HAVING SPACED RAILS AND INTERVENING RUNGS ATTACHED TO THE RAIL, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A BRACKET FORMED FROM A LENGTH OF STRAP METAL HAVING A VERTICAL SUSPENSION LEG AT ONE END AND A HORIZONTAL COMPLEMENTAL LEG HAVING AN INNER END JOINED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID FIRST LEG, SAID FIRST LEG BEING PROVIDED AT AN UPPER END WITH A HOOK TO BE RELEASABLY HUNG OVER A SELECTED RUNG ON SAID LADDER, THAT PORTION OF THE HORIZONTAL LEG ADJACENT TO THE VERTICAL LEG BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND ACROSS A FORWARD EDGE OF A COOPERATING RAIL OF THE LADDER AND HAVING AN OUTER END PORTION PROJECTING WELL BEYOND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID RAIL AND PROVIDED WITH A COLLAR, SAID COLLAR BEING ADAPTED TO SNUGLY SURROUND AND SUPPORT A PAINT BUCKET, SAID COLLAR HAVING A TERMINAL END PORTION EMBODYING A LATERAL FOOT SUPERIMPOSED UPON AND SECURED TO A SURFACE OF THE MEDIAN PORTION OF SAID HORIZONTAL LEG, AND A STABILIZING MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER END SECURED TO A MEDIAN PORTION OF THE SECOND-NAMED LEG AND HAVING ITS MAJOR PORTION DEPENDING BELOW THE LOWER EDGE OF THE SECOND LEGS, SAID STABILIZING MEMBER BEING AT AN ANGLE OBLIQUE TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEGS AND HAVING AN INWARD LENGTHWISE EDGE DESIGNED AND ADAPTED TO RESIDE IN FIRM CONTACT WITH A COOPERATING EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID RAIL. 